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CoolSculpting® vs. Kybella

When choosing between Kybella® and CoolSculpting® treatments, Tucson-area men and women who want to address a double chin may find themselves wondering which option is best. Since every case is unique, the ideal treatment depends on the patient, with deciding factors that include body type, desired levels of results, and more.

That said, it can be helpful to compare the available options in order to get a better idea of what it possible.

Both CoolSculpting® and Kybella® are nonsurgical fat-reduction treatments, but the similarities pretty much end there. CoolSculpting® works by chilling unwanted fat cells so that they rupture. The process does not break the skin, but does involve suction pulling the targeted tissue between two cooling plates. Kybella®, on the other hand, works via a series of injections that introduce a modified form of a digestive chemical—deoxycholic acid—into the fat cells marked for destruction. This acid causes them to no longer be able to maintain their integrity.

At this point, the treatment begin to resemble each other again. Whether destroyed by cold or acid, the fat cells are no longer viable, which means the body works to get rid of them efficiently. In the days and weeks after a treatment, volume in the area reduces, leading to new contours.

Neither treatment requires post-treatment downtime, as neither treatment involves incisions or sutures, which need time to heal.

Perhaps the best way to determine which fat-reduction strategy is best is to schedule a consultation with a professional experienced in both options and with a range of body types. A dermatologist can assess a double chin, learn more about the patient, answer questions as necessary, and recommend the best course from there.

To learn more about CoolSculpting® and Kybella® and determine which one is right for you, contact the Tucson-based Ironwood Dermatology online or call 520.618.1630.

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Why “Targeted Fat Loss” or “Spot Reduction” Cannot Be Achieved with Diet & Exercise

The internet is rife with certain “fitness gurus” touting claims of reducing fat on the arms, thighs, or belly through various kinds of focused exercises. Unfortunately, this is not how the body functions.

While eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly can yield significant physical and mental health benefits, and are key to maintaining a healthy weight, all they ultimately do are reduce the size of fat cells – they do not get rid of them.

As for focused exercises, the most they might do is improve muscle tone and definition in those areas to make fat look less obvious. While overall slimming down of the body is possible, it generally does not yield the extent of reduction we would like in specific areas.

This is part of what makes medical-grade, non-invasive fat reduction treatments so popular. CoolSculpting® offers Tucson, AZ, patients a pain-free alternative to surgery that is much more effective than diet or exercise at reducing fat in specific areas of the body.

The FDA-cleared device comes with a variety of applicators, each uniquely shaped and sized to accommodate almost any type of fat pocket on the body. The device cools down the area the applicator is attached to, causing fat cells to crystallize and die while leaving skin and other types of tissue in the areas unharmed.

Fat cells are much more sensitive to temperature changes, which is why they are much easier to damage with cold than other types of tissue. Once they die, the leftover matter from these cells is flushed out of the body through its natural processes.

With the right applicator, settings, and number of treatment sessions, CoolSculpting® is a quick, comfortable, and effective way to treat specific areas of fat. To learn more about the treatment, contact Ironwood Dermatology online or call 520.618.1630.